SesamX blog

In this article, I am talking about hardware and finite element analysis. I will provide you the key concepts to understand why hardware is important for FEA. So that you can analyze on your own, what is the proper hardware requirement matching your finite element analysis needs. Browsing the internet about the relation between finite element analysis and hardware can become tedious. A lot of information is available but it is quite often not obvious to get the general picture about the subject. [Read More]

FEA, or Finite Element Analysis, is a crucial tool used by engineers and designers to evaluate the behavior and performance of complex systems and structures. With the advent of advanced technology and the growing demand for high-performance and safe products, FEA has become an integral part of the design and engineering process. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive explanation of FEA for engineers and designers, and to help decode the mysteries surrounding this topic. [Read More]

Facing the finite element method for the first time can be a bit frustrating. Indeed, there are multiple mathematical topics to master before understanding what is going on under the hood. Nevertheless, this is also the reason why the finite element method is so powerful: it builds a reliable bridge between abstract equations and concrete engineering applications. This article aims at introducing the finite element method from a mathematical point of view. [Read More]

This article aims at detailing how to derive an efficient triangular shell finite element, known as the MITC3 shell element(Mixed Interpolation of Tensorial Components). Most of the MITC3 element derivation is similar to that of the MITC4 element, already introduced in a previous article about the shell finite element. It is therefore not detailed again here. Instead, this article focuses on the specific features of the MITC3 element, such as the presence of an internal node, and how it is embedded into the element formulation using static condensation (also known as Guyan reduction). [Read More]

The development of an efficient shell element has gathered a lot of work since the beginning of structural finite element history. For multiple reasons, developing an effective shell element is not an easy task, and we will cover some of these reasons through this article. Multiple shell elements are available in the literature, and they are still being improved as time goes on. For this article I have decided to introduce the MITC shell element (Mixed Interpolation of Tensorial Components) because it recently received new improvements making it one of the most practical and efficient shell element. [Read More]

The beam finite element is one the main elements proposed by structural finite element analysis software. This element deserves a full article to explain what it is about. I will focus on the Timoshenko beam element because it is the most common beam element implemented in FEA software. First, I will expose the assumptions underlying this element, as well as how to derive the beam element stiffness matrix. Finally, I will conclude this article with an example of a cantilever beam model simulated using the SesamX finite element analysis software. [Read More]

When talking about structural finite elements, the truss element is one of the first elements discussed. As long as the assumptions underlying its usage are met, it is an efficient element allowing convenient interpretation of results. I will discuss here theses assumptions as well as the truss element use cases. Then I will showcase the element formulation, leading to the expression of the truss stiffness matrix, as it is commonly implemented in finite element analysis software. [Read More]

This manifesto is the opportunity for us to expose our vision of what SesamX will be in the near future. It discusses some of its core features as well as explains the main motivation behind our action. A concise roadmap is given at the end to provide a clear view of how the development of SesamX will go on. What is SesamX? SesamX is a finite element analysis software that addresses the physical simulation of structural products. [Read More]